Coin freed automatic shooting machine



July 11, 1933. F, c, H HANSEN 1,917,445

COIN FREED AUTOMATIC SHOOTING MACHINE Original Filed June 26, 1929 2SheetsSheet l ZZZ/v en-or L- l 9 J? C.HHa 2 QMKQM July 11, 1933. c HHANSEN 1,917,445

con: FREED AUTOMATIC SHOOTING MACHINE Original Filed June 26, 1929 2Sheets-Sheet 2 'Llinvezz/iog waits Patented July 11, 1933 Unrrsn STATESPATENT OFFICE FRIEDRICH CLAUS HEINRICH HANSEN, OF HAMBURG, GERIVIAN'Y,ASSIGNOR TO NIER & EHMER, OF BE IERFELI), GERMANY COIN FREED AUTOMATICSHOOTING IVIACHINE Original application filed June 26, 1929, Serial No.373,844, and in Germany February 27, 1929. Divided and this applicationfiled. May 29, 1930. Serial N0. 457,315. L. I i

This is a division of application Ser. No. 373,844 of June 26, 1929.

This invent-ion relates to an electrically operated, cinematographicshooting machine comprising a mechanism, controlled by a rifle, forpiercing a diapositive in the form of a miniature target against aprojected image of which the rifle is aimed, and the invention consistsin the combination with an operating magnet for said target piercingmechanism, of a coin-operated switch, and a two-way switch adapted tocooperate with the coinoperated switch for eflecting a partial closureof the circuit of said magnet when a loading mechanism in the rifle isoperated, and to complete the circuit when the trigger is pulled.

Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings represents a view of the coin slotand of the switch operated by the coin,

Figs. 2 and 3 are views of further switches employed in the machine, and

Fig. 4 is a diagram of the electric connections.

The automatic shooting machine to which the invention relates comprisesa dummy rifle, an optical projection apparatus whereby an enlarged imageof a miniature target is projected on a wall or screen, a device wherebythe target is pierced so as to produce a corresponding effect on theimage at the exact spot towards which the rifle is aimed at the momentof firing the shot, and a coin-freed device whereby, in conjunction witha loading mechanism in the rifle, the piercing device is prepared foroperation, all these elements and the manner in which they are combinedbeing described in the specification of Patent No. 1,819,954. Theloading mechanism, which is retained in tensioned position by thetrigger and released when the latter is pulled,

displaces a rod 19 (Fig. 3) the lower end of which bears against a lug21 on a lever 23 mounted on a pivot 22. A compression spring 27 bearsagainst another lug on the lever, and against a lug 28 on a rigidbracket 29 secured to the rifle carrier 20 wherein the-rod 19is guided.The spring thus supports the rod 19 and opposes the operation of theloading mechanism. The switch arm 24 of a two-way switch B is mounted onthe same pivot as the lever 23 and moves between two electric contacts30 and 31. A spring 25 connectsthe arm 24 with the lever 28 at a pointwhich passes the dead centre position and therefore causes the arm tospring over from one contact to the other on the lever being rocked.

The switch lever 24 normally engages the contact 81. I When the loadingmechanism is tensioned the lever springs over to the contact 30, andwhen the mechanism is released by the pulling of the trigger, the leversprings back to the contact 31.

The piercing mechanism whereby the target is perforated comprises apiercing needle 51 (Fig. 4) carried by a pivoted hammer 52. The latteris operated by a magnet H through the medium of a rocking lever which,on being rocked by the magnet for operating the hammer, actuates thecontact springs 71 of a switch C for closing the latter, as described inthe parent specification.

The operation of the machine is dependent on the insertion of a coin inaslot 117 (Fig. 1) which leads through chutes .115 and 120 into asuitably arranged collecting box. The inserted coin 118 is retained atthe end of the chute 115 by a stop 119, as shown in Fig. 1. The stop 119is seated upon a lever 122 which is adapted to rock about a pivot 121and which is provided at its free end with the three cornered head 123,A spring 124 controls the lever and maintains. the stop 119 in operastive position. 1

By means of a hand lever 126 which is pivoted at 125, adjacent the coinslot 117, the coin 118 can be driven forcibly into the coin chute 120. iThe hand lever 126 is for this purpose linked by the arm 127 to alongitudinally guided slide 128 which, upon the lever being operated,strikes against the coin 118 the path of the three cornered lever head123 and with the other arm 132 in the coin slot 117, is turned by thehead, in opposition to a spring 133, into a position wherein it blocksthe coin slot. The lever is locked in the operated position by a catch136 which rocks about a pivot 135 under the action of a spring 137 andwhich places a nose piece 138 under the head 123 so as to prevent thelever from returning. The return of the levers into the position whereinthe coin slot is free is dependent upon the excitation of anelectromagnet G, whose armature is coupled through a link 134 with thecatch 136.

The catch 136 carries a switch arm 139 which co-operates with contacts140 in a switch A and which'closes a circuit under the influence of thespring 137 and breaks it under the influence of the magnet G. Fig. 1shows the elements in the'normal position, i. e. with the coin slotfreeand with the circuit at A broken.

In the arrangement shown in the drawings the coin-freed device isadapted to allow two operations of the rifle after each insertion of acoin. For this purposethe electro-magnet G will not come into operationfor clearing the coin-slot until two shots have been fired, theinsertion of coins in the slot being prevented in the meantime.

The circuit whereby the excitation of the electro-magnet G is carriedout contains a switch. roller 142 rotatable about a shaft 141.

At each use of the rifle the roller experiences a partial rotation, buteffects the circuit closure only at every other partial rotation. To theswitch roller 142 is connected a ratchet wheel 143 in which engagesaspring controlled ratchet pawl 144 mounted upon a crank-arm 145 whichrocks about the shaft 141. The crank arm is operatively connected bymeans of the link 146 with a switch lever 148 mounted on a pivot 147.The switch lever 148 is connected by a link 149 to the armature of anelectro-magnet L, upon the exitation of which it is turned, against thetension of a spring 150, into engagement with contacts 151 in a switch Dso as to close an electric circuit, while, by means of the link 146, thecrank arm 145 with the pawl 144 is caused to slide over the teeth of theratchet wheel 143.

The switch roller 142 iscontinually in current-conducting connectionwith a contact pin 153 pressed under the action of a leaf spring 152against one of its frontal surfaces. On this frontal surface the switchroller 142 is provided with a circular row of shallow holes 154, inwhich the contact pin 153 snaps successively upon rotation of I theswitch roller. The holes 154 correspond in their number and "position tothe teeth of the ratchet wheel 143, sothat after each partial rotationof the switch roller 142, the latter will be secured and prevented fromfor closing the circuit.

retrograde movement during the idle stroke of the ratchet pawl 144through the snapping of the contact pin 153 into one of the holes 154. 1

Againstthe peripheral surface of the switch roller 142 bears a contactfinger 155, which co-operates with the contact pin 153 In order thatthis circuit shall be closed at each second partial rotation of theratchet roller 142, the peripheral surface of the ratchet roller isdivided up into equal sections which are alternately curr-ent-conductingand insulated. In the position of the switch roller 142 according toFig. 2 the contact finger rests against an insulated section 156, sothat the circuit is broken. Upon the next partial-rotation of the switchroller 142, effected by the spring 150, the contact finger 155 will cometo rest on a current-conducting section 157 and con sequently producethe circuit closure. The closing of the circuit at D then causes theelectromagnet G to be excited for clearing the coin slot and allowinganother coin to be inserted.

The switch lever 148, turned upon the excitation of the electro-margnetL and thereby causing the idle stroke of the ratchet pawl 144 by meansof the crank arm 145, is retained in operated position, i. e., with thecircuit at D closed, by a detent lever 159 pivoted at 158 andcontrolled-by a spring 161. The lever 148 has a notch 163 wherein oneend 162 of the lever 159 is normally accommodated and prevented by theshoulder 164 from moving under the influence of the spring 161. Thelever 148, on being operated by the magnet L, frees the lever 159 whichis then turned by the spring 161 so as to place the end 162 of the leverunder the shoulder 164 and prevent the lever 148 from returning. A linkconnects the lever 159 with the armature of an electro-magnet K which,on being excited, turns the lever into the normal position and allowsthe lever 148 to break the circuit at D and to turn the switch roller142.

The detent lever 159 also co-operates with contacts 165 in a switch Efor closing and breaking a circuit, the magnet K effecting the closingand the spring 161 the breaking of the mechanism is connected to theswitch lever L511? 148 by a crank arm 168 and a link 169 so that eachoperation of the switch lever by the clectro-magnet L moves the countingmechanism to the extent of one member.

Instead of counting the shots, the counting mechanism 166 can serve forcounting the coins inserted, in which case the driving shaft 167preferably receives its drive from the lever 122 which carries the stop119.

The operation of the apparatus will now be described with reference tothe circuit diagram shown in Fig. 4, it being assumed that analternating current supply is used for the operation. y

The projection lamp 87 is connected directly to the high tensioncurrent, while the switch mechanism is operated by low tension currentover a transformer T.

The insertion of a coin is the condition for the use ofthe automaticshooting machine, such insertion causing a circuit to be closed at Athrough the contacts 140.

Upon loading the rifle by means of the gripping knob 11 on the bolt 13the lever 24 of the switch B is connected to the contact and occasionsthe following flow of current. From the transformer T over lead 5, 0,switch B over contacts 30, lead a, switch A over contacts 140, lead (Z,electro-magnet L, lead 6, switch E over contacts 165, lead-f back to thetransformer T. Hereby the magnet L is eX- cited and closes the circuitat D over the contacts 151 and opens the circuit at E by the tension ofthe spring 161.

Upon firing the rifle the switch B is changed over to contacts 31 andlead 9 and causes the following flow of current. From the trans former Tover leads Z), 0, switch B over contacts 31, leads 9', k, electro-magnetH, leads 2', 7:, switch D over contacts 151, leads Z and f back to thetransformer T. Hereby the magnet H is excited and causes the hammer 52with the perforating needle 51 to mark the target at the striking point.Zith the operation of the registering device the circuit is closed at Cover the contacts 71 by the pin and causes the following flow ofcurrent. From the transformer T over leads 5, m, switch C over contacts71 lead it, electrmmagnet K, leads 0, 7c, switch D'over contacts 151,

leads Z and f back to the transformer T. Hereby the electro-magnet K isexcited, which closes the circuit at E over the contacts 165 andreleases the switch lever 148. By means of the tension spring 150 theswitch lever 148 is freed from the contacts 151, the counting mechanism166 is moved to the extent of one number, and the switch roller 142 isrotated so as to make electric contact with the spring Upon the loadingof the rifle necessary for delivery of the next shot the switch B isagain changed over through the contacts 30 to the lead a and therebycauses the flow of current already described, which excites the magnetL. Thereby the circuit is closed at D over the contacts 151, and thecircuit at E and the contacts 165 is opened. 7

Upon the second firing ofthe rifle the switch 13 is again changed overthrough the contacts 31 to the lead g,.and the different circuits areclosed and broken in the order already described. However, since theroller 142 is in electric contact with the spring 155 on the firing ofthe second shot, the change flows from the transformer T over leads Z),-

c, switch B over the contacts 31, leads 9, 7), electro-magnet G, lead q,contact finger 155 and contact pin 153 of the switch roller 142, lead7', contacts151 and leads Z and f back to the transformer T. Theelectro-magnet Gr therewith opens th'ecircuit at A and at the same timeclears the coinslot. A motor 83 for moving the target receives itscurrent over a'switch E. When-the latter is closed, the motor isswitched on automatically over the contacts 151 upon loading the rifleand switched out again upon firing. The flow of current is as follows:From the transformer T over leads 5, 8, switch F, lead t, motor 83, leadu, i, 70, switch D over the contacts 151, leads Z and f backto thetransformer T. The entire installation can, when not in use, be renderedcurrent-less by means of a master switch J.

- When the apparatus is operated with direct current, a suitable ohmicresistance is employed in place of the transformer T.

It is obvious that, as compared with the illustrated example,modifications in the construction and in the size of the individualportions of the machine and in the electrical connection, can be adoptedaccording to desaid target piercing mechanism, of a switch I arranged inthe circuit of said operating magnet, a closing magnet for said switch,a coin operated switch in the circuit of said switch closing magnet, anda two-way switch operative to complete the circuit of said switchclosing magnet when the loading mechanism is operated and to completethe circuit of said operating magnet on the trigger being pulled.

2. The structure claimed in claim 1 in combination with means forretaining the coin operated switch and the magnetically operated switchin closed position, and electromagnetic means controlled by the triggerfor opening said switches. ,i

3. The structure claimed in claim 1 in combination with means forretaining the coin operated switch in closed position, an electro-magnetfor opening said latter switch, a rotary switch in the circuit of saidlatter magnet, and means for imparting partial rotation to said rotaryswitch at each firing of a shot, said rotary switch operated to closethe circuit of said latter magnet after a prerocked by the coin, anelectro-magnet opera tive to restore the levers to their normalpositions a rotary switch in the circuit of said latter magnet, meansfor imparting partial rotation to said rotary switchat each firing of ashot, said rotary switch operative to close the circuit of said lattermagnet after a predetermined number of shots have been fired. 7

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name this 15thday of May,1930.

FRIEDRICH CLAUS HElNRlCl-i HANSEN.

